History 28/02/20 As Ukraine became an independent state after the collapse of the Russian Empire
In the early twentieth century the territory remained divided between two great empires – Russian and Austro-Hungarian. Shortly after the February revolution in Petrograd, 4 (17 new style) of March 1917 in Kiev at the initiative of parties with a leftist orientation was formed the Central Rada (TSR), which included the original self-appointed himself co-opted and there politicians. TSR has positioned himself as a spokesman of the sentiments of all Ukraine and the interim authority in its territory. The main requirement TSR was the broad autonomy of Ukraine as part of Russia, and its leaders, the source did not rule out such option, in which Ukraine declared itself a fully independent state. During the spring and summer of 1917 the composition of CR is strongly enriched and democratized through elected representatives of workers, peasants and soldiers Happy (Councils) of Ukraine, the army and naval organizations, cooperatives, democratically elected local governments, national minority organizations.
in the Summer and autumn of 1917 TSR has proclaimed two “universal”, which declared the autonomy of Ukraine and its right to make laws and set taxes, the creation of the Ukrainian national army. However, it was confirmed that the final decision on the question of autonomy of Ukraine can only be taken all-Russian Constituent Assembly and the Provisional government of Russia saved the Ukrainian army and claimed the government of Ukraine – the General Secretariat. After the October revolution in Petrograd, 7 (20) November 1917 TSR has proclaimed the Ukrainian National Republic (UNR) in Federation with Russia. UNR was formed, composed of the provinces of Kiev, Volyn, Podolia, Kherson, Taurida, Ekaterinoslav, Poltava, Kharkiv and Chernihiv.
After the dissolution by the Bolsheviks of the Constituent Assembly in Petrograd, 9 (22) January 1918 TSR UNR proclaimed an independent state. Part of the front that passed through Ukraine, has long established a truce. Germany recognized the CR and its government and invited its representatives to the peace talks in Brest-Litovsk. On 9 February 1918, the countries of the Quadruple Alliance and the UPR signed there a peace Treaty under which Ukraine was transferred to the district of Brest and Chelm province (in the former Kingdom of Poland), but Galicia, Bukovina and Zakarpattia was part of Austro-Hungary.
When the Bolsheviks initially refused to sign the Brest-Litovsk Treaty with Germany and its allies, the Germans launched an offensive along the whole front. In addition, the Central Rada invited them to Ukraine to fight the Bolsheviks, which in December 1917 proclaimed at the Congress of Soviets the Eastern part of Ukraine in Kharkov, Ukrainian Soviet Republic. In the Ukraine civil war was raging. German and Austrian military intervention in the spring of 1918, temporarily suppressed the Bolshevik movement, but the Central Council at that time was not. April 29 in Kiev right-wing conservative circles made with the help of the German revolution and put in power with the title of “Hetman” of the former Imperial adjutant General p. P. Skoropadsky, a descendant of the famous Hetman of the seventeenth century.
the Government of Skoropadsky carried out the “Ukrainization” of schools, press, army, government agencies. At the same time the Hetman and his Ministers (also a former tsarist officials) admitted that they changed their monarchical convictions, but circumstances require them to make concessions to the national movements in Ukraine. In the social field were held reactionary politics: was cancelled 8-hour working day (introduced by the Central Rada), the land returned to the landowners. In Kiev took refuge fleeing from the Bolsheviks many of the figures of the tsarist regime and the Russian right-wing political parties. On the ground, the real power belonged to occupation of the administration to conduct the population to requisition food for Germany. The Hetman regime caused hatred in all layers of Ukrainian society. As soon as Germany and its allies were defeated in the First world war, he collapsed.
Against Skoropadsky at the same time acted as the Bolsheviks (in Eastern Ukraine), and supporters of Ukrainian independence. He proclaimed the restoration of the UPR on December 14, 1918 had occupied Kiev. Troops of the provisional government of UNR Directory (in February 1919 it was headed by Symon Petliura), first gained control over the entire above-Dnieper Ukraine. In domestic policy, the Directory announced the transfer of landed estates to the peasants for ransom. The short reign of the Directory was marked by pogroms, although the Directory itself disowned them and strongly condemned. Directory failed to organize the work of the state apparatus and to discipline the army. On February 5, 1919, Soviet troops took Kiev.
When Austria-Hungary surrendered in world war II, in Lviv, Ukrainian activists proclaimed the establishment of the Western Ukrainian national Republic (ZUNR). But the lions made a complaint and the revived Poland. Between Poland and ZUNR immediately war broke out, in which Poland won success. On 22 January 1919 the UPR and ZUNR have agreed to merge (the state holiday of modern Ukraine – the Day of Unification), but in July 1919 the Polish troops occupied Galicia.
Meanwhile, the policy of the Bolsheviks caused a widespread uprising in Ukraine, which was used as the Petliurists and the whites, with two sides advancing into Ukraine. August 30, the UPR army entered Kiev, but under the threat of a military confrontation left the city the whites. In the autumn of 1919, almost all of Ukraine, formerly part of the Russian Empire, was under the control of the Armed forces of South Russia (VSYUR) General Anton Denikin. However, this does not settle peace in Ukraine, as the new rulers again returned to the earth pmedicam, and the peasants rebelled again everywhere. Especially widespread movement “batko” Makhno in the South of Ukraine. Therefore, in the winter of 1919/20 the Bolsheviks again easily took control of Ukraine.
With the re-arrival of the Bolsheviks resumed the surplus, and the Ukrainian peasantry had not stopped worrying. In the spring of 1920 the Polish army launched an offensive in the Ukraine. By this time Petlura signed with the poles peace agreement, in which Poland recognized the independence of Ukraine in exchange for Galicia and Volyn. The UPR army was a separate compound in the composition of the Polish army. At the beginning of the Polish offensive was successful, and on may 6, the Polish army took Kiev. However, this was their greatest success. Jun 11, Soviet troops again occupied Kiev, and in August almost reached the city, but was defeated. According to preliminary peace Treaty signed by the RSFSR and Poland in Riga on 12 October 1920, Western Ukraine remained in Poland (Transcarpathia even before it was captured Czechoslovakia, and Bukovina with Romania).
Yaroslav Butakov
Source:
© Russian Seven
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